Albuquerque and Anne

We’re staying at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. This morning we took a walk around a nice park/running path on the base.  Then we got groceries and picked up a prescription. Now, other than writing this post, I’m reading and Jim is watching Witchita State play Louisville on TV while simultaneously listening to an Oregon State versus UCLA baseball game on the radio.  

So today is quiet (literally -- Jim has the TV sound turned down) but yesterday was big fun, including a wonderful lunch with former Ohioan (and Wellingtonian) Anne Dussel Brabson.  Anne and I were in almost all the same classes in 7th, 8th and 9th grade (then her family moved to Foxboro, MA).   We were in Girl Scouts together, too, and Anne's mom was our troop leader.  Anne retired after 24 years (do I have that right, Anne?) as an Albuquerque elementary school teacher.  Now she volunteers a lot of hours as a tutor and at a food bank.

I had a great time catching up and reminiscing.  Thanks, Anne!  We'll catch you again next time we are in ABQ.

After our three-hour lunch with Anne at Monroes, a very good Mexican restaurant, Jim and I went to Old Town Albuquerque.  

Anne and Bev outside of Monroes, where we had lunch.  Anne’s mom was our Girl Scout leader and the school librarian in Wellington, Ohio, where we both grew up; her dad was the high school history teacher.  Anne’s mom was a wonderful troop leader and Anne and I have great memories of camping at Findley State Park in Wellington, Camp Timberlane (a Girl Scout Camp) in Wakeman, Ohio, and a campground near Washington, DC.  Our troop traveled to DC in a converted school bus that belonged to the family of one of the scouts.  When I think about taking 20+ junior high girls to DC and chaperoning them to all the sites ... Mrs. Dussel had help, but she was/is a brave woman.

Jim texting in Old Town, which was founded by the Spanish in 1706. 

Old Town Albuquerque architecture.

Bev in Old Town, which is comprised of about ten blocks of historic adobe buildings.  Many are now  jewelry stories, restaurants and art and souvenir shops.

The San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church in Old Town was
built in 1793 and is being restored. The original building
was constructed in 1719, but collapsed after a heavy rain
storm in 1792.  This gorgeous building has five-foot-wide 
adobe walls and replaced the earlier church.

Bev at the Albuquerque Museum's sculpture garden in Old Town.